Overrated Performers- Page 3
Overrated Performers
#50re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:25pmI love Mandy's voice.
#51re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:26pmWell, a lot of singers are like that. Like I said, he is an amazing actor and even though I don't like his falsetto I love to hear how he acts out the song just in his voice. And he has a good lower register. The musical that I like him best in is THE WILD PARTY because it is lower and "darker" than his other stuff.
GovernorSlaton
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
#52re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:32pm
I think weak is the wrong word; soft, perhaps, but when he puts so much emotion into what he's singing (another thing he is criticized for), 'weak' is hardly appropriate.
And even if it is weak, doesn't that suit the character? Archie is tormented by his loss and has been grieving for so long that he barely is alive. TSG is one of my favorite Mandy performances.
#53re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:35pmWell, I am not talking about JUST Secret Garden. I mean he does it in every musical he does. Yes, I agree it does fit the part in SECRET GARDEN but it still erks me. Not as much as others but still..... Ok, and I give you that "weak" wasn't the best word. "Soft" is better.
Becky
Broadway Star Joined: 5/14/03
#54re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:45pm
It is not the performer's fault...it is the fans...
It's my opinion that there is a difference between evaluating Idina as a performer and evaluating the fan frenzy that surrounds her. I think some are being a little harsh on her simply because they are annoyed at the overzealous fans.
As someone who has seen her perform for 9 years now, I think we may have differing opinions of her as opposed to the people who have only come to know of her fairly recently. After seeing her through many major productions now, I don't consider her to be over rated for many reasons -- including her work ethic, vocal power, charisma on stage, versatility, etc. Those that don't agree? It's fine. But don't judge her based on the the platform the psycho fans have placed her on. And yes she has her share of those fans.....
billygoatgirl300
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/04
#55re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 7:47pm
I found it shocking that people here said Donna Murphy was overrated. I found her amazing in Wonderful Town even if it wasn't her full range.
As for overrated performers go I would have to say Idina. I mean she has a great voice but all the fans on the board here made her out to be like she was the greatest thing since slice bread.
Derech2
Featured Actor Joined: 10/24/04
#56re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 8:13pm
I think Idina Menzel is overrated, but personally I don't think she should be labeled as such from lack of talent. I find her acting precise, heartfelt, and completely believable. Her voice can be beautiful, powerful, and emotional. But I think she's become overrated because of her cult following and sickening giddy fan girls (and boys) who worhsip her beyond the level of a goddess. Same goes for Chenoweth.
I'm not very familiar with Mandy Patinkin in general, but I found his Ché horribly overrated. Every time I listen to him on Evita OCR, I sit in disbelief of how they failed to find anyone better than him. His voice is more or less pleasing to ear, but to me it is anything but impressive. He communicates very little emotion with his voice, and there is no dynamic variation. Just my opinion though. I haven't heard him in anything else.
One performer I've seen but have no idea how much hype she has is Tonya Dixon as Fantine. Rather disapointing ...
#57re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 8:16pmYeah...I wasn't saying that I thought idina was overrated because of her crazy fans, but that they are the ones who think she is a goddess...I think yes, she is a very talented woman, and has made a name for herself in new york because of hard work, but when people say that she "is the best singer they have ever heard" i cringe.
"I think it was the Korean tour or something. They were all frickin' asian!" -Zoran912
#58re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 8:51pm
Greg Edelman - lifeless
Mandy Patinkin - shriekingly awful
Antonio Banderas - can't understand a word he sings
Patti LuPone - sings the role the same everytime
Ethel Merman - ouch! My ears!
Michael Crawford - Forbidden Broadway says it all
Matthew Broderick - boring
Nathan Lane - I really don't like milkers or people with really obnoxious nasal squeaky tones
Ben Vereen - not a nice person. VERY egotistical.
my God...I can make this list neverending...
#59re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 8:54pmkay if it's gonna cause so much trouble, Donna Murphy is not overrated..I'm sorry, I just didn't like Wonderful Town. Shoot me why don't you.
#60re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 8:59pm
Then again...what IS your definition of overated?
#61re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:04pm
I know this really isn't the proper definition for "overrated" but when I think overrated I think about someone who has been talked about a lot and admired, no, not admired, but really OBESSESD over and over-talked about, who turns out not to be that brilliant.
Just my opinion, see i was on this other board before when Wonderful Town came out and EVERYbody was talking about how amazing the show is, etc etc....
And I just didn't like the CD. I'll admit, I guess that doesn't make her overrated. I admit, I havent seen Donna Murphy in anything else, and I should be open-minded and judge not only on one performance.
Kay.
#62re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:06pm
The show sucked.
Donna Murphy was brilliant.
Therefore, Wonderful Town is overated. Not Donna.
#63re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:08pmah. I dunno, maybe it just was the songs that bugged me, usually I agree when a singer does well. Maybe I should give Wonderful Town another few listens.
#64re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:11pm
Somethign I have learned.
You can never judge a performance by a cast recording.
You are only "hearing" what they can do, and you are not getting the full package.
I.e. People complain about Kristin Chenowith's voice being annoying. The majority of these people that complain are basing their opinion off of recordings. They have never seen her on stage.
Donna Murphy worked the stage and gave 200% in her performance of a half-assed hurried to finish script.
#65re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:13pm::nods:: I get it now. I suppose Ill pick up a few of Donna Murphy's other works then figure it out. thank ya
#66re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:14pm
Sally,
If you can, try and see her in the DVD of Passion.
#67re: Others love them, You don't see what the big deal is
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:20pmAnika Noni Rose. In my opinion, she is a good actress with a weak singing voice. I sat in the fourth row of CAROLINE - close enough so I could hear her "real" voice over the mic - not much there. Without the mic she may have been audible to perhaps the sixth row.
FrontRow
Stand-by Joined: 5/16/03
#68re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:20pm
No, let's not talk about people without a shred of talent. Then you're equating overrated with bad...and there's an important distinction. Overrated is not a reflection of talent, it's a reflection of the praise received.
I think these people are overrated (NOT untalented):
Donna Murphy
Laura Benanti
Gavin Creel
#69re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:21pm
Justice- I will def. be doing that, thanks
FrontRow- Gavin? really, how come?
Plum
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
#70re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:25pmA few male performers- I'm not going to name names- get attention here that is far out of proportion with their accomplishments because they go to the gym on a regular basis.
#71re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:27pmGod save me from the verbal bashing that will come down upon me for saying this, but...I do not get the obsession with Adam Pascal. He has a good singing voice, not great, but is a mediocre actor.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#72re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:30pmPriest, although I want to agree with you (the more I listen to his singing voice, the more I realise, it's really not THAT good), I have to say, he is a wonderful presence on stage. I wish I would have seen him in Aida. I wasn't into the Will Chase acting like Adam thing.
#73re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:33pmWell, that is one of the reasons I was relunctant to say anything. I have never seen him live. Only from Cast Recordings and bootlegs.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
#74re: overrated
Posted: 2/15/05 at 9:36pm
Priest, I agree with you 100% on Adam and for the record, I love Mandy.
Michael Crawford
Eden Espinosa--her shrieking kills me, kille me!
Amy Spanger--don't even get me started...
Videos